Our vocational training is giving Sri Lankan women in Thethaatheevu the help and hope they need to repair their tsunami-torn lives.

What is the need?

After the devastating tsunami in December 2004, Samaritan's Purse discovered a large number of desperate, unskilled Sri Lankan women in the fundamentalist Hindu village of Thethaatheevu who had lost not just families and homes, but any chance of economic survival.

Many are widowed, orphaned or abandoned. Many young women are also in danger of being abducted by local paramilitary groups who force them into servitude for their faction. Security for young women is a continual concern.

They need a wave of hope to overcome the one that had plunged them into despair. They need practical help and protection.

Vocational training is the greatest tool we can put into their hands to bring about real change in their lives, while we demonstrate the love of Christ in a compassionate and culturally-sensitive way.

How do we help?

We go far beyond merely teaching needy women how to sew. We follow-up our in-depth training course with start-up materials and the equipment necessary for starting a home-based business.
· We empower women with a lifelong skill of professional sewing and tailoring to create high quality goods that can be sold in the marketplace.
· We teach them to sew and tailor high-quality women's and girl's blouses and dresses, school uniforms, plus embroidered items that can be sold in the marketplace.
· Locally handmade garments are in high demand in this eastern Sri Lankan Tamil culture. Skilled tailors are few, so these students will be providing a service that's in significant demand in this region.
· We provide the in-depth training, sewing machines and sewing kits they need to begin their home-based business.
· Our four-month course gives personalised attention to help those women who struggle with literacy.
· We train these women in how to run their small business and keep ledgers, and we monitor their progress to ensure they have a sustainable income.

How lives will be changed:

Nirogini is a 26-year-old mother of three who was abandoned by her husband three years ago. She is typical of the women we are trying to reach. In her attempt to provide for her family she has been picking onions for a local farmer. Nirogini is paid 50 rupees for every 10 Kg bag of onions she is able to collect - that's about 55 cents for a day's work.
R. Thillangelini is a 30-year-old woman who currently caring for her five children and an elderly father. Her husband abandoned her several years ago and the age of her children has forced her to rely on her sister's salary. She has limited education and no future prospects.
We want to provide Nirogini, Thillangelini and others like them with a skilled trade that would be in demand in their community and would provide a sustainable income for them and their families. These women value the work ethic - all they need is our training and compassionate care.